6550--Equipment - Abbott ID NOW Analyzers + Test Kits - DET

The Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Healthcare System, VISN 10 Contracting Activity plans to enter into a sole source contract using Simplified Acquisition Procedures under FAR Part 12.102(a) to procure Abbott ID NOW analyzers and proprietary test kits necessary for molecular point of care testing. This one-year purchase order will support rapid testing for COVID-19, Influenza A/B, RSV, and Strep A at Community Based Outpatient Clinic locations. The Abbott ID NOW platform is uniquely qualified due to its compact size, suitability for exam room deployment, and the ability to perform CLIA-waived, decentralized molecular testing with turnaround times under 15 minutes for multiple respiratory pathogens. The contract is expected to be a firm fixed price with no additional options, awarded solely to Abbott, a large business located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The government has determined that Abbott is the only responsible source capable of meeting these specific requirements. This notice serves as a formal announcement of the intended sole source procurement, and it is not a request for proposals. Interested parties are informed that no responses will be accepted after May 12, 2026, at noon Eastern Time. Brooke Hansen is the designated contract specialist for this procurement, and the acquisition falls under NAICS code 325413.